Category Archives: Albemarle Street

Minimum Wage Studio Relocating

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Style magazine has published a rousing tribute to Lance Koehler’s Minimum Wage Recording Studio, which is relocating to Staunton, Virginia, after 20 years of making music right here in Oregon Hill.

The piece also promotes a fundraising concert scheduled for this coming Sunday at The Broadberry concert venue.

Microphones, cables and rows of knobs and dials — every recording studio has ‘em. A stated goal, on the other hand? Not all studios have one of those, but Minimum Wage Recording did: “To make it affordable enough that bands could take more time in the studio and really dig into doing some art.”

That’s how owner Lance Koehler describes the mission he sought to fulfill during Minimum Wage’s two-decade run operating in Oregon Hill. Now the gifted engineer, founding member of No BS! Brass Band and overall pillar of Richmond’s music community is packing up his studio and moving to Staunton, and some his former clients are stepping up to honor his contributions — and pay forward his generosity.

On Sunday, Nov. 17, the Broadberry will host A Celebration of Minimum Wage Recording Studios. The concert — part send-off, part benefit event — was the brainchild of fellow drummer Scott Clark, who was among the first to record at the studio when it was founded shortly after Koehler moved from New Orleans to Richmond in 2001. Upon learning Koehler was planning to move again, Clark was immediately inspired to put a bill together.

Needless to say, many neighbors will greatly miss Koehler and the great creativity emanating from Albemarle Street.

Event description as it appears in Style:
A Celebration of Minimum Wage Recording Studios will take place on Sunday, Nov. 17 at the Broadberry. Bio Ritmo, No BS! Brass Band and Justin Golden will perform. Doors open at 7 p.m. and music starts at 8 p.m. Proceeds will benefit Minimum Wage Recording Studio. Tickets are $15 in advance ($20 at the door) and can be purchased at thebroadberry.com.

Lost Keys On Albemarle Street

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From a resident:

I lost my keys and have been searching for the last two days since then. I have no clue where they might be. I figured I’d post on here in case they fell onto the street. It has my car and house key, but what I’m mainly upset about is that it had my cats ashes on it. The lanyard looks like this, and I live on albemarle by the dead end. It should have three black keys, this silver ashes thingy, a couple small keys, and a kroger card. If anyone sees them please please please message me. I’ve already searched my entire house, car, all my pockets and bags, etc so I really am just posting as a last hope

Gunfire In Neighborhood Last Night

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Neighbors were awoken about 2:15 am Friday night/Saturday morning by at least 16 shots, some of them in rapid succession. Although accounts are not quite clear, it sounds like they may have stemmed from an argument/altercation around Laurel and Albemarle. Witnesses saw guns fire from speeding cars that went down Laurel and up Pine.

This morning, some neighbors found fresh bullet holes in their walls and plan to inspect their roofs. Others are gathering security camera footage and figuring out car makes/models to give to police.

Raccoon Activity

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photo courtesy of Brandon Baldwin

There have been a lot more sightings of raccoons in the neighborhood lately. Some of it is probably due to the warm winter so far. Some if it may be due to other disturbances in the local wildlife population.

If you do see a raccoon on the street or sidewalk, leave it alone and consider calling an animal rescue group. If a raccoon approaches too closely, make yourself appear larger: stand up, shout, and wave your arms. If he continues to approach, throw or spray water, or even stones if needed. A raccoon that is very aggressive–or too tame, or seems to be disoriented or staggers may be sick or injured.

New Stop Signs In Consideration

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Oregon Hill is once again looking at possibly changing traffic patters as a new proposal is being weighed at City Council’s Land Use, Housing, and Transportation Committee.

Ordinance 2019-147 reads:
To erect all-way stop signs at the intersections of Spring Street and South Pine Street, Spring Street and South Laurel Street, Albemarle Street and South Laurel Street, and Albemarle Street and South Cherry Street, with a painted stop line at each intersection.

This follows neighbors’ discussion with City Councilperson Parker Agelasto’s office in regard to continued concerns about traffic safety. To quickly recap, neighbors originally requested all-way stop signs at Spring and Laurel and Spring and Pine, but agreed to try changing more intersections’ stop sign direction, now that concerns have continued, all-stops are being reconsidered.